Gus Malzahn, 60, popularized the Wildcat quarterback package while coaching at Arkansas. Jason Clark / Getty Images
Feb. 2, 2026Updated 11:26 am EST
After more than three decades in the industry, Gus Malzahn is retiring from coaching, Florida State announced Monday morning.
Malzahn spent last season as the Seminoles’ offensive coordinator but is best known for his time at Auburn, where he coordinated the Cam Newton-led offense to the 2010 national title. Three years later, he won the SEC in his first season as Auburn’s head coach and was 13 seconds away from beating the Seminoles to win the national championship in the final season of the Bowl Championship Series.
The 60-year-old Malzahn later served as the head coach at UCF from 2021 to 2024 and helped the Knights transition from the Group of 5 to the Big 12.
“After 35 years, it’s time for me to step away from coaching,” Malzahn said in a statement Monday. “I am excited to spend more time with my family and focus on the next chapter of my life.”
Malzahn started rising through the ranks as a high school coach in his native Arkansas. He led powerhouses at Shiloh Christian and Springdale before jumping to the Razorbacks, where he popularized the Wildcat quarterback package with Darren McFadden. Malzahn also worked as an assistant at Tulsa and was Arkansas State’s head coach in 2012.
In 13 years as a college head coach, Malzahn went 105-62 with one SEC title and a Sun Belt championship. That includes a 68-35 run at Auburn before he was fired in 2020 and received a buyout of more than $21 million — still one of the largest in college football history.
With Malzhan’s departure, Florida State is promoting co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr. to offensive coordinator. Harris has previously worked as the offensive coordinator at UCF and Florida International.
“I want to thank Coach (Mike) Norvell for giving me the opportunity to coach at such a prestigious program,” Malzahn said. “I will continue to follow Florida State, and I believe great things are ahead for the program under Coach Norvell’s leadership and for the offense under Tim Harris.”